News in Brief

July 13, 2011 —

Kang is a no-show at closing

NARROWSBURG, NY — Developer Ilwon Kang was supposed to have closed on a $70,000 deal to purchase the 14-acre sports field on Kirk Road in Narrowsburg before July 4, so that he could have a beer tent at the holiday festivities he planned for the space.

The closing did not occur, and was then scheduled to take place on July 6. According to Dr. Kenneth Hilton, superintendent of the Sullivan West school district that owns the property, Kang did not appear for the closing, and did not send word about why he could not attend. No money had changed hands, and as of July 12 the district still owned the parcel.

It is not yet clear if this development will have any impact on Kang’s offer to buy the school buildings in Narrowsburg and Callicoon for $3 million. The closing on that deal had been scheduled for about July 1, but because the town is in the process of re-writing its zoning code and it is as yet unclear if the new zoning will allow Kang to use the Narrowsburg School as planned for a hotel, the school board agreed to extend the closing deadline through October.

SERVE Act would boost firefighter recruitment

WASHINGTON, DC — A new act introduced by Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), the Supporting Emergency Responders Volunteer Efforts (SERVE) Act, would provide a $1,000 annual tax credit to help promote recruitment of volunteer firefighters and paramedics and to honor them for their service.

“Small communities in New York and throughout the country rely on volunteer firefighters to respond in emergencies,” said Hinchey. “These brave volunteers in many cases serve the same function as professional firefighters, but they do it on their own time and without compensation. The SERVE Act would provide volunteer firefighters and emergency service personnel with a $1,000 annual tax credit. The brave volunteers who risk their own lives to save the lives of others deserve our support,” said Hinchey.

To qualify for the refundable tax credit, firefighters and paramedics must serve at least 40 hours over the course of six months of the year. The SERVE Act would promote staffing at these emergency organizations to maintain the proper services needed to protect New York’s communities.